1 May 2014

Statement by H.E. Mr. Reza Najafi Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran

to the United Nations and other International Organizations – Vienna

At the Third Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference

of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

On Cluster II: implementation of the provisions of the Treaty relating to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,

safeguards and nuclear-weapon-free zones

1 May 2014 , New York

In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Please Check Against Delivery.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to associate my delegation with the statement made by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement under cluster II.

Non-proliferation as one of the objectives of the Treaty should neither be underestimated nor overemphasized. Rather, it needs to be pursued in all its aspects and in a balanced manner. While vertical and horizontal non-proliferation in all its aspects and nuclear disarmament are mutually reinforcing, non-proliferation cannot replace nuclear disarmament and the progress on nuclear disarmament should not be made conditional to progress in nuclear non-proliferation.

The importance of full compliance of States parties with all of their legal obligations under Articles I and II of the Treaty should be pursued in non-discriminatory manner. To that end, nuclear-weapon States should seriously refrain from nuclear-weapon sharing, deploying their nuclear weapons in the areas beyond their control or jurisdiction and transferring nuclear equipment, material and technology to non-parties to the Treaty or assisting them, directly or indirectly, in developing nuclear weapons. While nuclear cooperation of some States parties with non-parties has contributed to the increase capacities of recipient countries to produce more nuclear weapons, the claim of such States to be genuinely concerned about non-proliferation is misleading and untruth.

Mr. Chairman,

The important role that nuclear-weapon-free zones can play in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons has been recognized under Article VII of the Treaty.

Accordingly, the Preparatory Committee and the Review Conference should urge redoubling all efforts to strengthen existing nuclear-weapon-free-zones, including through early ratification of treaties establishing them and related protocols by all concerned States and withdrawing any reservation or unilateral interpretative declaration that are incompatible with the object and purpose of such treaties.

In the same vein, establishment of new zones in the regions where they do not exist, in particular in the Middle East, including through full and prompt implementation of the 1995 Resolution and the 2010 NPT Plan of Action on the Middle East, and above all convening, in 2014, of the conference on the establishment of such a zone, should be strongly supported and assured.

Mr. Chairman,

Non-proliferation also should not be a pretext for restricting the inalienable right of States parties to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as the Treaty clearly stipulates that nothing in the Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting this right. For instance and as also stated by the Non-Aligned Movement, concerns related to nuclear proliferation shall not be misused to restrict the inalienable right of any State party to develop all aspects of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes, without discrimination. Furthermore, certain peaceful nuclear activities should not be limited on the grounds of their “sensitivity”, as the Treaty does not prohibit any activity or the transfer or use of nuclear technology, equipment or material for peaceful purposes based on their sensitivity. It stipulates only that such technology, equipment and material must be subject to the IAEA comprehensive safeguards.

I should stress that as safeguards are accepted for the exclusive purpose of verification of the fulfilment of obligations assumed under the Treaty with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses, they shall be implemented without affecting the inalienable rights under article IV of the Treaty, and without hampering the economic or technological development of the parties or international cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, including the international exchange of nuclear material and equipment for the processing, use or production of nuclear material for peaceful purposes. According to Article III of the NPT safeguards agreement is the only legal standard for verification of nuclear activities of Sates parties to the Treaty. While we actively involved in the IAEA discussions regarding State-Level Concept, in our view the provisions of the NPT cannot be reinterpreted. Due to the importance of safeguards in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, we believe the committee should consider making recommendations on the universality of the IAEA comprehensive safeguards.